I WOULD have expected Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to have promoted his family concept by allowing the Sarawakian people to vote according to their conscience.
He shouldn’t show his shallowness by asking them to vote for the political parties that have a sound working relationship with the Federal Government.
This is not democracy and not even what a big family should do. The head of the family should embrace and not divide.
But this is not be so as Ismail invoked the infamous and familiar threat that the Federal Government might not continue with the planned projects in Sarawak if they voted unfriendly political parties to manage the state in the coming state election.
After assuming his post as Prime Minister, Ismail displayed some magnanimity by urging all Malaysians to work together as one family. He even promoted this concept at the international level. As though other leaders do not know what family means.
Although the concept was a feeble attempt to cobble up an effective administration, its lure soon fizzled out as soon as it started. So much for the much ado about nothing family.
Ismail’s few months in office is tainted. He has allowed criminals to walk freely in the corridors of power; his government presented a budget that was racist in nature; his Government is shamelessly surviving because of a memorandum of understanding with the opposition; and last but not the least, wasting public resources by appointing special envoys and special advisors.
Some may describe him as a meek leader, a stop-gap measure, or even a caretaker Prime Minister. Even before the passing of constitutional amendments to restore the lost rights of Sabah and Sarawak under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Ismail is throwing the spanner in the works.
If Ismail is threatening the voters of Sarawak to vote for parties that are amicable to the Federal Government, then this is an outright threat or blackmail.
It is difficult to accept the fact that Ismail who popularised the family concept would stoop so low to threaten and blackmail of the Malaysian family members, the Sarawakians.
I am not sure how sincere is the Federal Government in pushing through the amendments to restore the rights of Sabah and Sarawak.
We can take it that if the results are not favourable to the Federal Government, there will be the derailing of many projects in Sarawak. Is this the price that the people of Sarawak have to pay for being in the federation for nearly 60 years?
Is this the way for Ismail to respect the rights and the democratic space of the people in Sarawak? Can we altogether say that they may halt the constitutional amendments sought to the MA63 if the voters reject the Government that is friendly with the Federal Government?
Ismail should not be a fair-weather friend of the people of Sarawak. – Dec 5, 2021
Ramasamy Palanisamy is the state assemblyperson for Perai. He is also Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
